Arkania goes far and beyond the Ninja Warrior Casting

[Arkania]

Hello again,

 

does anyone remember me?

I skipped the last challenge and wasn't that much online the last 2 months.

Just needed some time off. There was a lot going on in my life and I needed a lot of time for RL.

As you may remember I applied for Ninja Warrior Germany last year. After the first invitations went out at the beginning of Feb I thought that's it, just one casting and you are not invited.

I was a bit sad but since I had a sports break for 2 months (elbow, psychological stuff*) and I gained some weight (7kgs, mostly fat) so I was good with it. Then I had an appointment for two new tattoos at then end of Feb and guess what?
The evening before I got the invitation for the casting on 23 March.

I needed to have a sports break again because of the tattoos (1,5 weeks) so I just started training for the casting last week. Friday the 8th.
I had an appointment with a personal trainer in my bouldergym (where the casting will happen) and he told me what exercises would happen and we trained for an hour.

After that I couldn't move for 4 days because I was so sore

So I was in the gym on friday to train swinging on a bar (and landing 3m away), hangling and stuff like that. And some bouldering.

It's really hard after that long break.

Friday I was in the "JumpHouse", a trampoline park where you can also do a Ninja Warrior Parcour.

That was fun but I am sore again

 

So, long story short: What is this challenge about?
It'a about the casting on Saturday. But not only this, it is also about having fun with doing sports again. I watched some docus about Crossfit and also Weightlifting and want to check out some new sports. In Germany (and parts of Europe) we have a so called "Urban Sports Club" where you can have a membership (S, M, L, XL) and with this can exercise and visit (in) alot of different places, like gyms, boulder gyms, swimming pools, yoga studios etc.

I think I might check this out.

 

Also I want to think about eating and that stuff. IE, what I think of my body, why I gained weight so quick etc.. Why I get these binges. I've learned a lot of stuff about myself during the past few weeks, like be myself and don't think too much about what otheres might think. Stuff like this. I questioned a lot of what I do at the moment (e.g. minimalism, eating, hobbies) and already changed some things.

 

And last but not least I also registered a side business in Feb, so I have to work on that too (Positioning, what exactly do I want to offer etc).

 

I am not sure, if I have smart goals for that, will think about that today. Because I know, goals can make me go crazy (psychologically). But maybe I just rename them.
I read the book "mini habits" at the moment so maybe I will rename my goals to mini habits.

We'll see.

 

And now I will read aaaaaaaaall the posts and threads I missed out the last week.

 

*sort of an eating disorder, binged sometimes, not good

 

 

[WhiteGhost]

Sooo exciting!  Hope you are able to perform at your best for the casting. It would be awesome to have a rep from NF on Ninja Warrior

[Arkania]

 

21 minutes ago, WhiteGhost said:

Sooo exciting!  Hope you are able to perform at your best for the casting. It would be awesome to have a rep from NF on Ninja Warrior

I don't think I will be invited to the show (That's ok, I just want to do the casting)

What will happen on saturday:

 

- Swinging on the pole and jumping 3m further into a target, I was 50cm too short.
- Stand high jump (i.e. jump over a pole) up to 1.10m. I had to pass at 90cm (I would have found it easier to jump on it instead of over).
- Hanggling. Balls, rings, a towel. need to improve
- gymnastic ball. 90 sec time for: Hold in a flowing movement (no single exercises) with each figure for 2 seconds, everything without touching the ground: lying on your stomach, squatting without hands, standing up) not so difficult at all, except for the last point
- 3min time for push-ups (chest touches floor) alternating with box jumps. I did two laps (in the first lap he missed to write it down). Second round: 22 push-ups, 25 box jumps

 

 

So I don't think this is worth a show invitation

[Jean]

Here for support, hope you'll have fun!

[Ensi]

Following! I hope you've managed to handle the IRL stuff, it's smart to spend less time online when you need to focus on other things  Have fun preparing for Saturday!!

[Arkania]

Thoughts from today:

I am excited and a bit stressed because of the casting. Why?

Because:

I recently read in a forum (comments from a guy who was at the casting last year who wrote a female commentator a reply):
She: "Oh I've always wanted to take part, but I'm not trained enough".
He: "Well, when I see what kind of women have been involved, then you can easily keep up. What women got there was ridiculous that they applied at all".

And then my head - of course - again "yes. exactly. you untrained, fat thing. What are you doing there at all?! There are much more better women. And if you look at your performance in the PT  it wasn't really good!"
Thank you, brain, very nice!

Well and then my motivation was like "puff" just gone. Because: Why should I still train when I don't have a chance anyway? No matter if I don't want to participate or not. Then I can also save the effort. Or simply cancel directly. They are just talking behind my back about me then when I participate and fail.

BUT: Who the fuck cares what other people think? I just want to have fun!

What if I'm the worst? I don't want to be on TV anyway
As if someone is standing there laughing at me or taking me down (I'm already looking too aggro (already having a Resting Bitch Face ) for anyone to dare)
And what the people behind my back think/talk I can't influence/change anyway.
I don't know why I have such a blockade.

 

So: no catastrophisation! Just go there and give my best!

 

Second: I thought it jwas just the stress about the casting. But it isn't. I kind of was ok with my job lately, but there are some meetings on tuesday and wednesday that I don't want to do. I had migraine because of it today. And after I thought about a sick note for htese days it went better. So I'm still not really good with my job but it's better then the last months.

So: Start stuff with the side business! Fast

 

[Elastigirl]

Glad to see you back!  Sometimes our brains just say stupid stuff, sounds like you did a good job of telling your stupid brain where to go.  It seems pretty normal to be a bit stressed about it. Even if you know the facts, like it's ok even if you don't make it, of course you want to, and of course you'll be thrilled if you do, disappointed if you don't. And that uncertainty is bound to mess with you a bit. Best plan is to just use your nerves for energy. I 

[Mad Hatter]

Awesome you're back! And yeah don't let the haters get to you, there's absolutely nothing wrong with using this for a fun experience and test your limits, even if realistically you might not be competitive at this point.

 

23 hours ago, Arkania said:

- Swinging on the pole and jumping 3m further into a target, I was 50cm too short.

Impressive! I struggle with this in parkour for some reason.

[Arkania]

On 3/17/2019 at 10:15 PM, Elastigirl said:

Glad to see you back!  Sometimes our brains just say stupid stuff, sounds like you did a good job of telling your stupid brain where to go.  It seems pretty normal to be a bit stressed about it. Even if you know the facts, like it's ok even if you don't make it, of course you want to, and of course you'll be thrilled if you do, disappointed if you don't. And that uncertainty is bound to mess with you a bit. Best plan is to just use your nerves for energy. I 

 

Thank you <3 I was not good at this my whole life but I am getting better

 

12 hours ago, Mad Hatter said:

Awesome you're back! And yeah don't let the haters get to you, there's absolutely nothing wrong with using this for a fun experience and test your limits, even if realistically you might not be competitive at this point.

 

Impressive! I struggle with this in parkour for some reason.

 

I am really good in interpreting stuff other people may think, that's another thing I have to learn and I am getting better at

 

For me it's mostly a mental thing. The bar is so thick and I have to jump right next to a 2m parcour box and I am a bit scared of sliding backwards because my hands can't hold this thick bar or sth like this.

We'll see if there are maybe thinner bars at the casting.

[Happienumber]

It’s still going to be a wonderful experience either way!!

You can just stay in your lane, and your lane is the “be awesome anyway” lane. They can say and think whatever they want in their lane. [emoji6]

 

Envoyé de mon iPhone en utilisant Tapatalk

 

[Arkania]

5 hours ago, Happienumber said:

 

You can just stay in your lane, and your lane is the “be awesome anyway” lane. They can say and think whatever they want in their lane.

 

 

 

That's a nice picture Thank you!

 

[Ensi]

Do it just to give yourself a wonderful experience on Earth! You deserve to be there, and you've wanted to give it a go - the event is just as excited about you as you are about it

[Norgaard]

NINJA WARRIOR! I always dreamt about that! best of luck!!!!

[Arkania]

Nothing interesting happened the last days, I just began two books:
Mini habits (finished)

and Mini habits weight loss (started)

 

They seem to be really interesting and this may be the right path for me, since I can't count on motivation on bad days.

I've had good experiences with establish habits, but "normal" habits need a lot of willpower and I first have to increase willpower.

And:

 

So I will try this as a new approach.

I already wrote down some mini habits:

- 1 pushup/1 jumping squat/1 Stretch of one body part (Bonus: Go outside)

- write 50 words (book)

- work 5mins on business

- eat 1 vegetable and 1 fruit

- learn 1 word in french

 

I will try them this week and maybe adjust the quantity.

The weightloss book is already interesting because it talks about that diets don't work and there are a lot more things to keep an eye on then macros, calories and stuff like that.

Still have 4 hours to go in the book.

[Mad Hatter]

Love the mini habits!

[Jean]

 

On 3/17/2019 at 7:04 PM, Arkania said:

BUT: Who the fuck cares what other people think? I just want to have fun!

 

This!

 

Have fun tomorrow.

[Arkania]

It was really fun

Cool people, cool exercises, cool atmosphere

Couldn't take photos because it was forbidden, but I got a "I survived" sticker

 

 

And it was really fun, I was better than expected

And I met a lot of great people.
So, waiting for the end of April then

 

But: What now?

Findings from the last 30 years (well, well, maybe the last 1-2 years and in fact the last months )

1) I need short-term (partial) goals, but also not too short-term. Monthly I think is quite good.
2. I need external "pressure".
3. I must be up for it and really want to do it.
4. I can't have the feeling "I don't have a chance to learn that in time anyway". So still ambitious goals but not too exaggerated, because if I don't see a chance that is big enough, then I don't feel like I want to do it anymore.
5. I still need enough free time. I still have a lot of other things to do

 

And now I've been thinking.
Money bets: Doesn't work.
Go somewhere to check performance: Yep!
Online with video/photo: ? No idea. Forumthreads did not run that well. Maybe forum is the wrong format? Maybe it has to be different (Youtube, Blog,...)?

So monthly mini ournaments would be great. Against others or against my performance of last month.
Is there such a thing/sport (already)? Maybe CrossFit?
If not, how do I create something like that?
Or do I just look for another (small) multisport competition every week? Or do I get the online stuff (here in the forum?) maybe even raised that I get it done better and be motivated?

Ideas anyone?

E: Sporting goals!

 

[Elastigirl]

That sticker is so awesome! I love the list of things that motivate you-great insight

[Mad Hatter]

Congrats on surviving!

 

13 hours ago, Arkania said:

But: What now?

Findings from the last 30 years (well, well, maybe the last 1-2 years and in fact the last months )

1) I need short-term (partial) goals, but also not too short-term. Monthly I think is quite good.
 2. I need external "pressure".
3. I must be up for it and really want to do it.
 4. I can't have the feeling "I don't have a chance to learn that in time anyway". So still ambitious goals but not too exaggerated, because if I don't see a chance that is big enough, then I don't feel like I want to do it anymore.
 5. I still need enough free time. I still have a lot of other things to do 

Spontaneous thoughts without much coherence.  

 

1. The time scale is why NF challenges are 4 weeks long.  

2. Do you really need external pressure, or is it just something that pushes you to perform better and/or train harder? If it's the first I'd start thinking about why and if there's a way you could get more intrinsically motivated. I think it's important that you can enjoy and push yourself without an external goal too, so training or whatever doesn't only become about the event. Otherwise you could end up in an unhealthy spiral, classic examples would be crash dieting before an event only to regain all the weight straight afterwards or training hard for a marathon and then not run for half a year.

3. Good! No point in chasing goals that don't mean that much to you!

4. That's the tricky part about goal setting, isn't it? For me I've realized it's too hard, at least when it comes to training goals.  That's why I started experimenting with habit formation instead. But setting ambitious goals is fun and I think the trick is to set those big long term goals, but then break them down into manageable chunks. I also think it's difficult to set the right level, because sometimes I just don't know what's possible and what's not. Then again, if you set something too ambitious, does it matter if you never reach that goal if you learn a bunch of other skills on the way? And if you set too small goals that you're 100% sure of you might also risk underselling your ability.

5. Here again I think it's about how you break down your goals. If you keep the goals focused it's easier to break them down into small chunks and concentrate on the things that will get you the most bang for the buck. If the goals are too wishy washy that becomes impossible.

 

The thing I'm curious about is what you will do now with the ninja stuff? It feels like you want to jump to the next shiny thing (nothing wrong with that!) but if you like this stuff would it not make sense to keep training to be able to do better at next year's casting?  Were there any challenges that you failed at that you'd like to be able to do?

 

Personally love watching training videos so I think a YT channel sounds like a great idea.  

On the forum there's also the monthly mini challenges that sometimes get quite competitive, if you haven't already checked them out. 

 

13 hours ago, Arkania said:

So monthly mini ournaments would be great. Against others or against my performance of last month.
 Is there such a thing/sport (already)? Maybe CrossFit?

I think all sports have opportunities for testing yourself really, the number of them will just vary depending on how big the community is and what type of sport it is. But I don't think it makes sense to seek out new sports just for that reason, again I think it's important to have that intrinsic motivation anyway and to want to do the sport and improve at it no matter what. Comps should only be a bonus or for giving you that extra drive. But of course try out everything you think sounds fun! Don't forget that you can always test yourself on your own, you can for example set up a challenge for yourself and keep testing yourself once a month on that same challenge until you can make it.

 

Either way, keep doing awesome things!

[Isaac10991]

Do you think you'll apear on the show?

[Arkania]

On 3/24/2019 at 10:59 PM, isaac10991 said:

Do you think you'll apear on the show?

 

I don't think so. But you'll never know

I didn't think I'd be invited to the casting either.

But goal (casting) achieved, show would be bonus.

______

 

Just asked 4 CROSSFIT boxes regarding a test training and now have an appointment next week wednesday evening and the week after tuesday morning. And I am reaaaaally exited

It might be the "competition sport" I am looking for. We'll see.

______

On 3/24/2019 at 9:21 AM, Mad Hatter said:

Congrats on surviving!

 

Spontaneous thoughts without much coherence.  

 

1. The time scale is why NF challenges are 4 weeks long.  

2. Do you really need external pressure, or is it just something that pushes you to perform better and/or train harder? If it's the first I'd start thinking about why and if there's a way you could get more intrinsically motivated. I think it's important that you can enjoy and push yourself without an external goal too, so training or whatever doesn't only become about the event. Otherwise you could end up in an unhealthy spiral, classic examples would be crash dieting before an event only to regain all the weight straight afterwards or training hard for a marathon and then not run for half a year.

3. Good! No point in chasing goals that don't mean that much to you!

4. That's the tricky part about goal setting, isn't it? For me I've realized it's too hard, at least when it comes to training goals.  That's why I started experimenting with habit formation instead. But setting ambitious goals is fun and I think the trick is to set those big long term goals, but then break them down into manageable chunks. I also think it's difficult to set the right level, because sometimes I just don't know what's possible and what's not. Then again, if you set something too ambitious, does it matter if you never reach that goal if you learn a bunch of other skills on the way? And if you set too small goals that you're 100% sure of you might also risk underselling your ability.

5. Here again I think it's about how you break down your goals. If you keep the goals focused it's easier to break them down into small chunks and concentrate on the things that will get you the most bang for the buck. If the goals are too wishy washy that becomes impossible.

 

The thing I'm curious about is what you will do now with the ninja stuff? It feels like you want to jump to the next shiny thing (nothing wrong with that!) but if you like this stuff would it not make sense to keep training to be able to do better at next year's casting?  Were there any challenges that you failed at that you'd like to be able to do?

 

Personally love watching training videos so I think a YT channel sounds like a great idea.  

On the forum there's also the monthly mini challenges that sometimes get quite competitive, if you haven't already checked them out. 

 

I think all sports have opportunities for testing yourself really, the number of them will just vary depending on how big the community is and what type of sport it is. But I don't think it makes sense to seek out new sports just for that reason, again I think it's important to have that intrinsic motivation anyway and to want to do the sport and improve at it no matter what. Comps should only be a bonus or for giving you that extra drive. But of course try out everything you think sounds fun! Don't forget that you can always test yourself on your own, you can for example set up a challenge for yourself and keep testing yourself once a month on that same challenge until you can make it.

 

Either way, keep doing awesome things!

 

Thank you

1. Yes, that's a great thing. But I think you guys here are too nice When one fails it's like "oh, that's bad, but ok, I'm sorry for you". That's nice but I think this isn't helping for me personally, because then I know I can fail and nobody would be mad or sad oder whatever. You know what I mean?

2. I need external pressure to get started I'm really competitive and that's fun for me but I never ever was that competitive, that it would really stress me and let me do things, that didn't do me well. (BEcause deep inside me I know I am good at stuff and sometimes better than others and don't have to train that hard. What corresponds with 4).

4. When I have a status from myself that I can compare to, then it's ok. But the casting was the "old" issue: Deep inside me I knew I would never be one of the best with 2 weeks of training. So I didn't train that much. Because I already am in the "good midfield" range and really not having the chance to be one of the best. So why train?

Next problem was the eating disorder stuff.

5. Yep, S.m.a.r.t. goals ftw

 

At the Ninja casting there was a woman, I asked what sports she does and she was like "nothing. haha. no, just Ninja Warrior". And I didn't think about NW stuff as a single sport but as exercises from different sports. But we have some Ninja Warrior classes at the boulder gym, so maybe I'll try this out. Or other courses there (parcour etc).

But I am not sure if "just" NW training (what would that be?) is enough for me. I would love a trainings plan/guideline for that

 

I already did some mini challenges but haven't looked at it again since I am back. Have to check.

 

And yeah, that's it. I wanna have fun

Because of that I want to try out some new stuff, I will do that the next months. Maybe Crossfit is it. Maybe not. Who knows

 

[Tobbe]

6 hours ago, Arkania said:

I already did some mini challenges but haven't looked at it again since I am back. Have to check.

 

And yeah, that's it. I wanna have fun

 

You can always create a mini challenge yourself that sounds fun to you! Sometimes you just have to take the steering wheel yourself to get what you want and need!

[Arkania]

I am in Vienna over the weekend (from tomorrow morning until monday evening), so it might be a little quiet here

[Isaac10991]

Have fun! I must admit that when I got the notification that this thread had been updated I saw only the I am in part and immediatly assumed you were in the qualifiers. Hopefully this is still the case, but I have to say that I have never clicked a notifications so fast.

[Tobbe]

2 hours ago, Arkania said:

I am in Vienna over the weekend (from tomorrow morning until monday evening), so it might be a little quiet here

 

Enjoy your minivacation